1
as in misleading
tending or having power to deceive
in his deceptive answer about the vehicle's history, the salesman said that the used car had never been hit by another car
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fraudulent
given to or marked by cheating and deception
a mail-order firm indicted for deceptive business practices
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deceptive
The synthetic version has made its way into products that provide a masterclass in deceptive marketing.
—
Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 21 Feb. 2026
The office also logged 151 complaints about health care, including disagreements over health insurance payments, billing, deceptive treatment and related issues.
—Lee Rood, Des Moines Register, 20 Feb. 2026
Not sharing news of the increase was deceptive, and the company should be fined.
—Dave Lieber, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026
The agency also alleged other deceptive practices.
—James Powel, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deceptive
Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 21 Feb. 2026
The office also logged 151 complaints about health care, including disagreements over health insurance payments, billing, deceptive treatment and related issues.
—Lee Rood, Des Moines Register, 20 Feb. 2026
Not sharing news of the increase was deceptive, and the company should be fined.
—Dave Lieber, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026
The agency also alleged other deceptive practices.
—James Powel, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deceptive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deceptive
Adjective
-
Schaeffer says those late-season numbers were misleading.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
21 Feb. 2026
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Cincinnati’s record also may be somewhat misleading.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Overall, the racket generated almost $600 million in fraudulent billings.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
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During the hearing, prosecutors said, Hamdan admitted to using his two pharmacies to submit false or fraudulent prescription claims.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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After chasing thousands of leads and pursuing several false confessions, investigators arrested the four men in 1999.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
20 Feb. 2026
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This becomes, like the false premises of a rom-com relationship, the dirt between the gears of their dynamic.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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This evidence places her in the crosshairs of a powerful network, including corrupt banker Freya Myers (Michaela Watkins), an unnamed assassin played by Stephen Moyer, and a shady businessman who happens to be her old man.—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Feb. 2026
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But also there is shady stuff going on everywhere.—
Paul Tenorio,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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This is incredibly misleading, dishonest and self-serving.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
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In The Corner That Held Them, rarely does desire raise its head as the nuns busy themselves with dishonest bishops, honest con men, collapsing spires, inconclusive visions, ecclesiastical intrigues, catty infighting, attempts at levitation, and the plague.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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And no more crooked mail-in ballots except for illness, disability, military, or travel.—
TIME Staff,
Time,
25 Feb. 2026
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And no more crooked mail-in ballots except for illness, disability, military or travel.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deceptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deceptive. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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